boyutpedia Chapter 30 Traitor
Chapter 30 Traitor
Liu Wei's apartment became a makeshift command center, but this "command center" was pitifully shabby. The coffee table in the living room was covered with maps, notes, and electronic devices, and the corner was piled with limited supplies that had been urgently brought out from Qingyun Lane. Its only advantage was its seclusion—located on the 24th floor, with a wide view, and Liu Wei rented it under a false identity, even paying the water and electricity bills through complicated channels.
On the morning of the third day after the destruction of Kanwei, Li Shancheng greeted the sunrise on his balcony.
The sky above Kyoto was tinged with a pale gold by the dawn, and the glass curtain walls of distant skyscrapers reflected the morning light, resembling rows of enormous golden tombstones. From this vantage point, one could see the Yongding River winding through the city, its waters shimmering with tiny ripples in the morning light. But in Li Shancheng's perception, this river was more than just water—it was one of the manifestations of the earth's ley lines network, with a pale blue energy flow flowing deep within its riverbed, the lingering power of the remaining energy from the Kan position array eye still struggling to circulate.
"What are you looking at?" Xu Qingqing walked to his side and handed him a cup of hot water.
"The earth's veins." Li Shancheng took the water glass. "After the Kan position was destroyed, the entire network became disordered. It's like when a person's heart has a problem, the blood circulation throughout the body is affected."
"Can it be repaired?"
"It takes time, and it also requires... sacrifice." Li Shancheng looked southwest, where the Wen Shu array's core was located. "Bishop Qin ignited the Purple Dragon Wood, which is making this kind of sacrifice. He's using the Wen Shu array's stored energy to temporarily stabilize the entire system. But this is just a painkiller, not a cure."
Xu Qingqing was silent for a moment: "Was the method that Old Jiang taught you last night useful?"
Over the past two days, Jiang Han, when his physical condition permitted, guided Li Shancheng in a special meditation training method—the "Seven Star Breathing Method." This method does not enhance strength, but rather harmonizes it: allowing the abilities from different sources within the body (Wen Shu bloodline, knowledge of the Book of Light, and residual energy from the Kan position) to find a frequency of harmonious coexistence.
"It's useful, but very slow." Li Shancheng clenched his fist, feeling the pulse of the Heart-Twin Imprint on his palm. "It's like learning to draw a circle with your left hand and a square with your right hand at the same time. The brain knows what to do, but the body needs time to form muscle memory."
Su Yan's voice came from the living room: "Come here, everyone, something's up."
The two returned indoors. Su Yan stood in front of the coffee table, a satellite map displayed on a tablet in his hand. Seven red dots were flashing on the map, one of which had gone out—representing the Kan position.
"I contacted the guardian of the Dui position array eye," Su Yan said, his tone heavy. "To be precise, he contacted me. He was seriously injured. The Dui position array eye was attacked an hour ago, but it wasn't completely destroyed. The attackers used the same method—an internal breakthrough combined with a strong external attack."
"Has the traitor been identified?" Jiang Han sat on the sofa, his face pale but his eyes sharp.
"The guardian of the Dui position recognized one of them; it was his disciple, who disappeared ten years ago." Su Yan pulled up a blurry photo of a young man in his twenties. "Liu Mingxuan, the most talented young man of the Dui position. He disappeared without a trace three years ago after going out on an investigation. We all thought he was dead."
The man in the photo looks ordinary, except for a small tattoo on his neck—seven stars in a circle.
"The Seven Star Mark..." Jiang Han narrowed his eyes. "The membership mark of Hanshan Technology. It seems they planned this all along, infiltrating various array points and cultivating or recruiting traitors many years ago."
"How is the situation now?" Li Shancheng asked.
"It can still be maintained, but it will take at least a month to restore basic functions," Su Yan said. "The Guardian is seriously injured and is recuperating in a safe location. He provided an important piece of information: the attacker repeatedly mentioned 'the return of the Seven Stars' and 'the reopening of the Heavenly Gate,' suggesting that the night of the full moon is not only about activating the relics, but also about conducting a large-scale ritual."
Liu Wei came out of the kitchen, holding several printed documents: "There are similar records in Engineer Chen's notes. She deciphered an ancient document that mentions that when the seven relics are activated simultaneously, they will open a 'heavenly gate,' connecting this world with a 'higher dimension.' Through the heavenly gate, the laws of reality can be 'reshaped.'"
"Reshaping reality..." Li Shancheng repeated the phrase, "What exactly does that mean?"
"The literature doesn't provide a detailed explanation, but Engineer Chen speculates that it might involve rewriting physical laws, altering history, or even...creating new life forms." Liu Wei put down the documents. "She believes this is an extremely dangerous act because any modification to the real world would have a chain reaction and could lead to unpredictable consequences."
Jiang Han suddenly started coughing, and it took him a while to calm down: "In ancient legends, there is indeed a saying that 'when the Heavenly Gate opens, the universe changes.' But that is a forbidden technique that requires a huge price to pay—usually a sacrifice."
"What are we sacrificing?" Xu Qingqing asked.
"Life force, soul, or... the energy of the entire array eye." Jiang Han looked at the Kan position crystal in his hand, which had dimmed slightly. "If Hanshan Technology plans to open the Heavenly Gate on the night of the full moon, they will need a massive energy source. The seven array eyes are very likely the sacrifices they have chosen."
This speculation brought silence to the room. If the array's core was a sacrifice, then the night of the full moon would not just be a battle for relics, but a battle for survival—the destruction of the array's core would mean the collapse of the earth's vein network, and the metaphysical balance of the entire Kyoto city and even a wider area would be completely shattered.
"We need allies," Li Shancheng broke the silence. "Not just other guardians, but also ordinary people who might be affected. Libraries, museums, university research institutions... if they know that Cold Mountain Technology's plan could have catastrophic consequences, they might offer help."
"But how do we convince them?" Su Yan questioned. "Ordinary people find it hard to believe in fantasy, let alone that a tech company would sacrifice an ancient array core to open the Heavenly Gate. They'd think we're crazy."
"The part that can be explained by science," Liu Wei suddenly said. "Chen's notes contain a lot of data that proves that Hanshan Technology's energy siphon can affect geological structures, magnetic fields, and even biological health. If we hand this data over to the relevant departments, it might attract their attention."
"There's not enough time." Jiang Han shook his head. "The bureaucracy is too slow to react. By the time they investigate and confirm, the full moon night will have long passed."
Li Shancheng pondered, then suddenly remembered someone: "How is Cheng Xu? Has he recovered?"
"I contacted him yesterday. His injuries are mostly healed, but the shop is being targeted by Hanshan Technology, so he can't go back for the time being," Xu Qingqing said. "He's in another safe house, continuing to analyze the data we obtained earlier."
"Let him help us establish an information network," Li Shancheng suggested. "Using his technical skills, we can anonymously send data on Hanshan Technology's unusual activities to multiple departments and research institutions. Even if the official response is slow, it will at least create public pressure and draw more attention to Hanshan Technology's actions."
"At the same time, we need to conduct on-site reconnaissance." Su Yan pointed to the location of Shuanglong Bridge on the map. "There are still five days until the night of the full moon. Hanshan Technology must be strengthening its defenses there. We need to know the specific situation before we can formulate a countermeasure."
"I'll go with you," Li Shancheng said.
"No, I'll go alone this time." Su Yan shook his head. "My Fire Escape Technique is better suited for rapid reconnaissance and evacuation. You stay here and continue learning from Elder Jiang, mastering the power as soon as possible. You are crucial; you can't risk your life before the final battle."
Li Shancheng wanted to argue, but Jiang Han spoke up: "Su Yan is right. Shancheng, your most important task right now is to complete the basic stage of the Seven Star Breathing Technique. If you can't stabilize the power within your body before the night of the full moon, you won't be able to help, and you might even become a burden."
These words were direct, even somewhat harsh, but Li Shancheng knew they were true. He nodded.
The plan is finalized: Su Yan will immediately go to Shuanglong Bridge to investigate; Cheng Xu will establish an information network to spread the abnormal data of Hanshan Technology; Liu Wei will organize the scientific evidence in Chen Gong's notes; Xu Qingqing will be responsible for liaison and material preparation; and Li Shancheng will follow Jiang Han for intensive training.
After Su Yan left, only four people remained in the apartment. Jiang Han had Li Shancheng sit opposite him, and the two began a new round of breathing exercises, palms facing each other.